Recent Articles

On October 8, 2016, the Birmingham Electrical JATC and IBEW Local No. 136 assisted in the setup and takedown at Oktoberfest Trussville, an annual event in Trussville, Ala., that raises money for local charities.

Right now, a pack of six standard 60 watt incandescent light bulbs will cost you about $15 on Amazon. If you want something a bit more special (say bulbs connected to Thomas Edison) it’s going to cost you—a lot.

On November 21, 2016, the Department of Energy (DOE) released a report titled “Assessing the Future of Distributed Wind: Opportunities for Behind-the-Meter Projects” which explores the potential of distributed wind energy in the U.S. through 2050.

One of the most popular points of contention in broadband internet delivery is that much of the United States is underserved or not served at all by internet speeds that meet the Federal Communications Commission's (FCC) definition of high-speed internet.

In the energy industry, there is big business to be made in reclaiming wasted or unnecessary energy usage, and great strides have been taken in saving electricity. Now, ASHRAE and IES are tightening the belt on residential energy usage.

The United States celebrated the second annual National Apprenticeship Week from Nov. 14–20, 2016. The week consisted of hundreds of events across the country, all of which focused on the role apprentices play in the modern workforce, and how they help businesses grow.

Going green—really green—isn’t easy. It takes dedication, attention to detail and a vigilance to an ever-changing supply chain. Cradle to cradle (C2C) is both a movement and a product standard for manufacturers that develop products with materials that retain their value.

Set on five acres next to the Washington Monument on the National Mall in Washington, D.C., is the Smithsonian Institution’s newest addition: the National Museum of African American History and Culture.

Energy efficiency and energy-use data collection are both trends in today’s green marketplace, and they were the topic of much discussion at the 2016 Greenbuild Conference, held in October in Los Angeles.

In September, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) awarded $10.5 million in safety and health training grants to 77 nonprofit organizations, according to a press release from the U.S. Department of Labor (DOL).

This summer, in the aftermath of a heavy storm, Duluth, Minn., residents were mostly concerned about when their electricity would be restored. They were unlikely to be thinking about how the city would dispose of all of the toppled trees.

As local government and business owners look for ways to improve efficiency and reduce greenhouse-gas emissions, outdoor lighting has become one of the most practical ways for them to reach their goals.

Continuing the thread of measurement uncertainty in fiber optics, this month I discuss measuring the loss of an installed fiber optic cable plant. Optical loss, tested with a light source, power meter and two reference cables, is the most common measurement in fiber optics.

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ECMag Live

2016 Profile of the Electrical Contractor

The findings of the biennial research study

Featured Writer

Chuck Ross

Freelance Writer

Chuck Ross is a freelance writer and editor who has covered building and energy technologies for a range of industry publications and websites for more than 25 years. He specializes in building and energy technologies, along with electric-utility business issues.